What is rehab like?

Individuals that have not entered addiction recovery before may have questions about what the process is like. There are always many ideas about what addiction recovery entails. Though every addiction recovery process is different, there are many similarities. Taking a look at these will give you a good idea to expect through treatment. An early, healthy breakfast is usually the first thing on the agenda at any recovery center or rehab facility. There are very few, if any, rehabilitation centers that will allow you to sleep in and lounge around. In fact, the whole point of rehabilitation is to stimulate the mind, body and soul. Sleeping late wastes precious time to do just that! Next is usually an informative and enlightening group session led by a therapist. This session is designed to allow the victims of addiction to share their experiences with substance abuse, and to speak about what it was that drove them to abuse. This can include people, environments, experiences, or feelings. The session is usually open ended, and allows you to take steps to identify and mitigate triggers that you may not have previously been aware of. Later in the day, you’ll more than likely take part in a more intense version of the early morning session. This will typically be preceded by a healthy and nutritious lunch. This afternoon session could be one of any number of things, including time for individual sessions, family therapy, or cognitive behavioral therapy (a relatively new form of therapy that focuses on altering an individual’s specific behaviors when it comes to certain triggers.) Based on the particular recovery center, other forms of therapy could even include art or music. After two intense sessions, individuals are usually allowed a few hours of free time to relax and unwind. Soccer, basketball, and volleyball are usually among the activities offered at most facilities, while some facilities may opt to include things like ping-pong, swimming, and even hiking. If you are not interested in any of these activities, you can always spend your free time writing, drawing, or journaling. In the evenings after dinner, you can usually look forward to another optional meeting to discuss the day and get to know your peers more. This meeting can include everything from a discussion of the 12-step process to candid conversation about what you hope to accomplish at the program’s end. Designed to foster friendships and pave the road to long-term recovery, these meetings are intentionally set up right before an early bedtime, to give individuals the night to reflect.